Few parts of aircraft have evolved as little as the communications capability. OK, we no longer use tubes in the radios but other than that, the VHF AM system is as legacy as they come. To add insult to injury, when the shortage of frequencies in the aviation band finally forced the industry to do… Continue reading Passengers are not the only ones who need good communications – pilots do too!
Tag: ATC
Interesting people, unusual flight plans…
Paul Hopff – The winding road to Belgocontrol What were you dreaming of becoming when you were a kid? Until about age 6, I was determined to become a railroad station master, you know the guy with the red cap. But then the aviation bug bit and I never recovered… What moved you to become… Continue reading Interesting people, unusual flight plans…
Aerodrome control towers of the world – Budapest, Ferihegy
The origins The Budapest area has had three airports before operations moved to the current location, Ferihegy. The first Hungarian aviation pioneers tried their wings at Rakosmezo, a forlorn and ill-equipped pasture where enthusiasm was the only thing that kept those daring souls in the air. The first “real” airport was at Matyasfold, the second… Continue reading Aerodrome control towers of the world – Budapest, Ferihegy
Wake turbulence gone with the wind – the CREDOS project
The problem of vortices There are two kinds of dangerous phenomena behind large aircraft. Jet wash and wingtip vortices. These are the most important components of what is commonly referred to as “wake turbulence”. The intensity of this turbulence depends on a number of factors, among them the mass of the aircraft concerned. Jet-wash is… Continue reading Wake turbulence gone with the wind – the CREDOS project
Enterprise Architecture and service orientation – what is this?
Few abbreviations connected with the future air traffic management system have given rise to so many questions and misunderstandings as EA (Enterprise Architecture) and SOA (Service Oriented Architecture). In the United States both concepts are part and parcel of air traffic management system development since the marching orders were given by the Federal Government. In… Continue reading Enterprise Architecture and service orientation – what is this?
Same time, same place, samel level…13
VIP – the Very I??? Person Ever wondered what that little red luggage-tag, with “VIP” printed prominently on it, was supposed to signify? Very Idiotic, oh sorry, Important Passenger. There are various ways to earn such distinction and these include flying the same line very, very often or making it to Head of State. The… Continue reading Same time, same place, samel level…13
Station calling – Visiting StuckMic
Our concept for Roger-Wilco is to make it different. You will judge how successful we are in this endeavor but in the meantime we like to believe that we provide value to our readers in a form and with content that does distinguish us from other, aviation related sites. This does not mean that we… Continue reading Station calling – Visiting StuckMic
Same time, same place, same level…12
Enter the doctors Inept aptitude tests… Air traffic controllers, just like aircrew, have to meet vigorous health standards to be allowed to practice their trade. At most places, even before entering the training course, prospective controllers are sent to specialized medical institutions where a careful evaluation is made, not only to check that the candidate… Continue reading Same time, same place, same level…12
Missing its destination – not the first time
You have all seen the news; Northwest Airbus misses Minneapolis with crew preoccupied with whatever they were doing… But this is not such a big deal. Listen to the following story. In September 1995 I was out walking the dog (we had a wonderful Siberian Husky called Cyrano) when I noticed a DC-10-30 in Northwest… Continue reading Missing its destination – not the first time
Aerodrome control towers of the world – Schiphol, Amsterdam
Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam has had four control towers in its history, with number three and four doing service simultaneously these days. Number four is a strange looking creature, sitting out in the fields and watching over the airport’s fifth runway. However, this article is about tower number three, the tall, torch-like edifice on the… Continue reading Aerodrome control towers of the world – Schiphol, Amsterdam